The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-05-19

"They will soon be quiet, then YOU
can sleep again.: said the mother.
| '"Listen!' said the little one. ::
The noise was now heard IN their
own yard. Max entered the room
pale as death, "Mother," he cried,
"they take father with them! That
must not BEL do not permit it-you
mrst also not permit It'll They can.
not If he does not want to-they are
dogs and not men-I will not-mv
tnther,-my dear father!'- the
tears ran down his pale cheeks, whilst
he clenched mis- fists and rushed out
again.
II will not!"'he screamed into the
leaders, face. "You are not permit
ted to take father away from me and
mother and little Anna. l do not
permit it, do you hear?" and he grasp
ed the officers arm in saying SO.
BE still, silly little fellow" said
the officer, half laughing, half pfovok-
ed. Nothing Is going to happen to
him; besides, little people. like you
have to hold their tongue, Remem-
Der that!'
~ have to say some thing!" cried
Max with raging anger. II shall not
let my father be taken away. know
what kind Of people you are. have
honest trade~you steal and rob
ing to you"
MAX" cried his father, who just
came, accompanied by some soldiers,
from the stable, to put the only horse
OF the house, the old bay, into the
cart, Max stopped when he heard
the admonishing tone of the beloved
voice; then he FASTENED to his father.
II 60 with you, when they take
yon,' he cried resolutely. II shall
not let you 60 alone-1 want to see
what happens"
"And mother? and Anna? What
are you thinking of, MAXI"
81 cannot stay behind-I cannot!'
cried the boy among tears.
"Max: be my sensible, Qbedient boy,
and look at your mother!"
There in the door stood the poor
woman and looked over to her hus.
band md son. The soldiers loaded
the bags and pots on the cart and
pushed Max aside.
II am ready" said the father, and
pressed through the crowd to his
wife. II must go; you know it; how
tar have togo with them, I cannot
learn now. Be of courage even if l
have to stay away a long time
Where is Anna? gee we'll, my child, and
40 not give your mother any trouble.
And you, too, Max, my good, brave
boy,-take care of mother. Do you
hear?"
Max stood with clenched hands and
dark looks at the windows, when the
train departed; in front a troop OF
soldiers on horseback, then the high.
laden cart with the old bay, and then
again troop of soldiers surrounding
his father like a prisoner.
One hour passed quietly. The s,iii
shOne brightly as if nothing had hap.
pened, the swallows flew from their
nests and returned twittering to their
young ones. Max stood in the street
and watched them with g. bitter feel:
ing in his heart.
There! suddenly-listen! "a shot
and another!
"Mother, do you hear?'
AS if she did not hear it! Shot aft
er shot in always quicker succession;
or whatever it was meant to be; it
sounded like the roaring of wild ami
mails; and yet Max knew that there
was men, vino rejoiced, complained, or
wled;-however, it was dreadful to
listen to. And between it all the re-
port OF the guns, which was re-echoed
from the houses of the village.
"Poor fatl,er!' said the mother,
and Max looked mute into her face.
In the village street the noise and
tumult began again. Troops of SOL
diers came along, the hussars in the
morning had probably been their ad-
vance guard. But this time they
were in a hurry and galloped in wild
haste toward the woods where they
heard the fighting. Max wanted to
90 upon the hill behind the cemetery,
but his mother held him back. So he
climbed the high pine tree in the garden
and looked over to the forest. Rut
he could see nothing but smoke and
hear nothing but the report of the
firing which lasted till the evening.
When the sun went down the shooting
was not so near, and the noise
gradually subsidized, and when the
moon rose all had become quiet and
only the wind rustled in the old nut
trees.
Max's mother brought cup ofmilk
and a piece of black bread. Eat that
Max, else you will get SICK" she said,
and with her hand gently stroked the
boys dark hair.
"Do you expect father back to-day?'
asked Max, without looking at his
supper.
His mother shrugged her shoulders
and cried.
"Where is he?" asked Max.
"How can you ask me thus?" she
said softly.
1t grew later and later and later,
and the father did not come home.
The mother went about the house and
locked the doors and shut the win.
dows, and put out the fire in the k1tch-
en- where she had prepared Annals
soup.
1T is time to go to bed," she said.
"Do you not hear anything?" asked
Max.
His mother opened the window and
listened. But everything was quiet.
The lonely, quiet night was over the
valley, and the air came cool into the
room.
"Go to bed, Max, and pray" said
his mother, after having listened a
while
IF l only knew where father isl
said Max, ''if could only see him for
q moment, If only knew that shall
ever see him again!'
"Pray, my child, pray' said his
mother, and hid her face in her hands.
After Max had gone into his cham.
Der, and nothing moved any longer,
his mother extinsuished the light, for
she thought it might bring danger ii
troops should pass the village in the
ght and see the illuminated window
The poor woman was now quite alone
in the chamber the children slept.
The moon shone into the room and
lighted up the walls and the place where
the father used to sit at this time OF
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